This year, Setsubun is on February 2nd, and the beginning of spring is the following day, February 3rd. This is the first time in 124 years that Setsubun will fall on February 2nd, and from next year onwards, it will return to February 3rd. This is a sort of leap year error adjustment. According to the lunar calendar, this is the beginning of spring. With the arrival of plum blossom season, you can feel the breath of spring in your heart, don't you think?
The language of plum blossoms is "nobility," "loyalty," and "patience." This applies to us right now, as we faithfully adhere to a noble, hygienic lifestyle as a measure against COVID-19 and patiently overcome this difficult situation. Now, in terms of skin care, winter is still in full swing. It is important to take care of the weakening resistance of skin that has endured the harsh winter and prepare the skin for spring.
In February, skin with weakened resistance is hit with various skin stresses!
In winter, dry stress can weaken the skin's resistance. In addition, as spring approaches in February, the skin is hit with stress from temperature changes, pollen, and sunlight. Here, we will use weather data to understand each type of stress.
Drought stress
Last year's weather data (Tokyo) showed that the monthly average humidity was the lowest in February at 55%. Other regions show similar trends, and air conditioning makes indoor temperatures even drier than the outside air. Skin that has been through the winter is prone to the driest it has been in all year. Even if you are conscious of moisturizing, the dryness, which can be considered an "alarm" level, will add to the damage caused by winter on your skin, and your skin's resistance will also tend to weaken.
Temperature stress
February is the month with the lowest recorded temperatures, but at the same time, spring-like days arrive and temperatures rise sharply... In addition, the difference between indoor heating and the outside temperature also adds to the stress caused by temperature differences, making it the highest level of the year. The skin's ability to adapt to the sudden and intense temperature changes can lead to poor skin metabolism and various skin disorders. Be mindful of temperature changes when choosing clothes and strengthen your moisturizing care. We recommend using a double combination of a highly penetrating moisturizing gel and a moisturizing cream for added protection.
Pollen stress
According to the Japan Weather Agency's latest pollen forecast for 2021, cedar pollen will start to spread at the same rate as usual or slightly earlier, and the amount of pollen released will be less than usual (although 1.8 times more than last year).
Symptoms such as itchy eyes and sneezing are stressful for the body, and can ultimately lead to skin disorders, but recently, there have been reports of "pollen dermatitis," in which rough skin develops not from symptoms such as sneezing, but from skin irritation caused by pollen. When going out, wear a mask and pollen protection glasses, brush off pollen from your clothes and hair before entering the house when you return home, and be conscious of cleansing and washing your face immediately after returning home, and wash gently so as not to remove too much of the sebum film. In addition, rhinitis medications that suppress hay fever also have side effects, and antihistamines, which are often included in hay fever medications, have side effects such as drowsiness, thirst, and increased appetite, which can lead to skin disorders. To prevent dryness caused by these side effects of medication, don't forget to frequently hydrate and strengthen your skin moisturizing care.
Sunlight stress
Many people become more conscious about whitening their skin from March onwards and start using sunscreen, but in Tokyo last year, the amount of sunlight in February was the same as in March. In February, skin that is stressed by winter skin stress tends to have a weaker resistance to sunlight, such as ultraviolet and near-infrared rays, so it is important to start taking measures against sunlight early.
◆ UVB: The cause of epidermal blemishes and dullness
◆ UVA: the cause of wrinkles in the dermis
◆ Near infrared rays are the cause of sagging subcutaneous tissue
Choose a sunscreen that combines these triple functions to protect against sunlight, apply it generously, and be sure to reapply more throughout the day.
We've provided some advice on understanding the skin stresses of February and preparing for spring!
Next time, I would like to give you some tips on how to wake up your skin and start spring!
